Acetylene-gas generator.



. No. 636,22l. Patented Oct. 3|, I899. H. GRIFFITH. ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed Feb. 2, 1899.)

3 Sheets-Sheet No Model.)

Q/Vi bweoaeo No. 636,22l. Patented Oct. 3|, I899.

H. GRIFFITH. ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed Feb. 2, 1899.) (N o M o d e l 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Evita wanes wdw N0. 636,22l. Patented Oct. 3|, I899.

H. GRIFFITH. ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed Feb. 2, 1899.) (No Model.) 3-Sheets-Sheet 3.

ISA; F135 Witmeweo nonms PETERS cm. PHOTCLLIYNQ, wfia ncfon. 0, c4

UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

HAZAEL GRIFFITH, OF TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO PERRY CLARK, OF SAME PLACE.

ACETYLENE-GAS GEN ERATO R;

SPEGIFIGATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 636,221, dated October 31, 1899.

Application filed February 2, 1899. Serial No. 704,312- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HAZAEL GRIFFITH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Terre Haute, in'the county of Vigo and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-Gas Generators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that type of acetylene-gas generators in which water is dropped upon the calcium carbid within a generatingchamber for generating gas, which is conducted away to a gasometer or other suitable receiver, from which it is distributed for use.

The object of my invention is to improve the general details of machines of this type both as to safety in operation and running capacity.

Myinvention contemplates the use of watersupplying mechanism which is actuated as the bell of the gasometer is lowered by exhaustion of the supply of gas, so as to deposit water upon the carbid and generate more gas, and also the use of a number of carbid-holders, which may be brought successively beneath the watersupply.

My invention also contemplates such other working parts as are necessary to the proper control of the gas-supply and the prevention of accumulation of too much gas.

My invention consists of certain novel features in the construction of the water-supply, the carbid-holders and generator, the valves, and the means whereby these several parts are brought under control of the gasometer.

My invention will be fully understood upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of a complete apparatus embodying the several features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, and Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views of the carbid-holders.

1 represents the generator, and 2 the gasometer, having a bell 3 and communicating with the generator through the medium of a pipe 4:, which enters through the center of the bottom of the generator and terminates in a vertical pipe 5 within the gasometer.

Grepresents the water-supply tank, which is preferably cylindrical in form and mounted upon trunnions 7 in brackets 8. For convenience in shipment and for regulating the discharge of the water from the receiver the brackets 8 are hinged at 8? to lower stationary 5 5 portions 8", so that the upper portions may be swung to one side or the other for'adjustingthe position of the water-holder. Located in the periphery of the water-holder are segmental series of escape-openings 9, having on their opposite sides projecting flanges 9", which terminate in a discharge-lip 9 The position of the water-holder 6 is controlled by a chain 10, which carries atone end a counterpoise 11 and at its other end passes over pulleys 12 13 and connects with a vertical rod 14, extending centrally through the gasometer. As the gasometer rises it draws the chain and moves the water-holder to the position shown at Fig. 1, at which time no water can escape through the series of openings 9; but when the bell 3 of the gasometer is lowered by exhausting the gas incident to its use the water-holder 6 is moved by the counterpoise 11 in the opposite direction, so as to bring one, two, or more of the perforations 9 below the water-level and to permit the escape of a smallamount of water therefrom. The number ofperforationswhich are thus presented in position to permit the escape of water obviously depends upon the extent to which the bell moves downwardly, and consequently the more rapidly the gas is exhausted from the gasometer the greater the degree the water-holder will be rotated and the greater the number of holes that will be brought beneath the water-line, and consequently the greater the amount of water delivered upon the carbid. The machine is thus made accurately self-regulatingin the matter ofgenerating the gas. The water discharged from the holder 6 is delivered into a pecul-' iarly-formed hopper 15 beneath the segmental series of holes, from whence it escapes by pipe 16 downward, thence upward, and then hori-' 5 zontally through the wall of the generator 1 to a discharge-nozzle 18 above thecarbidholders 19 in the generator. By providing the dip in pipe 16 water is always trapped therein, and the generating-chamber is thus I00 sealed against the escape of gas through the water-supply pipe. 16 represents a cock by means of which water may be allowed to escape from the upper arm of the pipe 16 when it is desired to test the water-supply at that point, and 16 represents a similar cock at the lowest point of the pipe 16, by means of which said pipe may be emptied at any time.

A plurality of carbid-holders 19 is preferably employed, so that a suflicient quantity of carbid to last a considerable length of time may be introduced into the generator, and the generator need not be thereafter opened until nearly all the carbid is exhausted.

As a means for mounting a number of carbidholders 19 within the generatorand bringing them successively beneath the drip-pipe 18 of the water-supply I provide a bracket 20 for each holder 19, each of which brackets is made up of the base 20, the pins 20 which confine the holder 19 upon the base, the attaching-rod 21, and the pintle-eyes 22, together with a vertical bar 23, attached at top and bottom to endless chains 24 and carrying at intermediate points pintles 23,which receive the eyes 22. The brackets 20 are further provided with caster-wheels 25, which travel upon the base 1 of the generator to bear the weight of the carbid-holders. The lower chain 24 is preferably made to run in a depression 24 in the base 1, (see Fig. 5,) so that said chain will not interfere with the other working parts. The brackets are further provided with horizontal friction-rollers 26, for a purpose to be explained. The endless chains are mounted upon upper and lowersprocket-wheels 27, turning upon shafts 2S, suitably journaled in the generator. One of the shafts 28 carries a hand-wheel, by means of which travel may be imparted to the sprocket-chains and the carbid-holders thereby brought successively beneath the drippipe 18.

In order to fill the carbid-holders, they are made removable from their brackets 20, and to facilitate such removal they are deflected from their position between the upper and lowersprocket-chains, the mounting 21 22 23, heretofore described, being adapted for that purpose. To permit such deflection of the holders, the generator is provided with an oifset 1", into which the brackets, with their holders, are deflected automatically by means of a cam 30, which projects into the path of the friction-rollers 26 on the bottom of the brackets. Above the offset 1 the generator is provided with a removable cover 31, preferably in the form of a screw-cap. To recharge the generator, it is simply necessary to remove the cap 31 and by turning the handwheel 29 bring the holders successively into the offset 1 when the holders are removed and cleaned, then recharge and return one after the other until all the holders are recharged. To prevent back pressure of gas from the gasometer during the recharging operation and to permit the escape from the generator of any gas contained therein at such time, the pipe 4 is provided with a threeway cook 32, controlled by a key 33, so that the pipe 4 may be thrown into communication with waste-pipe 34 at will. From the pipe 4 the gas during the normal process of generation passes, as before stated, through the vertical pipe 5 into the gasometer in a manner common to such machines. As will be seen from Fig. 3, the gas-outlet 35 is connected by a branch 35 past a safety-valve 36 with the blow-0E pipe 34. Ihe safety-valve 36 is controlled by lever 37, which is connected by chain 38, passing over pulley 13, Fig. 1,witl1 rod 39, projecting centrally through the gasometer. If the supply of gas beneath the bell 3 raises the latter to the upper limit of its movement, some part of the bell orapart moved by it'-for instance, the rod 14will engage with the head of the rod 39 and raise the latter sufficiently to move the safety-valve 36 through the connections just described.

In order to provide for the working of the rods 14 and 39 through the center of the gasometer, which location is preferable because the bell is not thereby thrown off its equilibrium in performing the work, the gasometer is constructed as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, from which it will be observed that the shell 2 has upwardly-projecting concentric cylindrical walls 40 41, between which the water enters freely from the shell 2, while the hell 3 has a downwardly-projecting cylindrical wall 42 entering between the walls 40 41 and sealed by the water of the shell. \Vithin the wall 41 of the shell and the wall 42 of the bell is a clear central passage through the gasometer, in which the controlling-rods 14 and 39 work.

43 represents a pipe through which the water from the gasometer may be drawn off at any time.

The gas-pipe 35,1eading from the gasometer, communicates through a projecting pipe 35 with a water-trap 44, in which water of condensation may be collected and from which it may be discharged periodically through a pipe 45. Pipe 35 dips into the water in the trap, and thus seals its end. It is also preferable to have the gas-pipe 4 communicate through an extension 46 with the water-trap 44, as much moisture is thereby arrested which would otherwise pass into the gasometer, extension 46 dipping into the water of the trap to seal its end.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In an acetylene-gas machine, a trunnioned water-holderhavingaplurality of outlets which may be successively brought into position to permit the escape of water by turning the holder upon its trunnions, and means for controlling the movements of the waterholder, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In combination with an acetylene-gas IOC machine, a trunnioned water-holder having a circumferential series of openings, a connection between the water-holder and the gasometer whereby the holder is moved in one di rection to bringits openings in position to discharge the water therefrom, and a counterbalance for returning the water-holder; substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with an acetylenegas machine, a trunnioned water-holder having a circumferential series of openings 9 and flanges 9 ,and means for controlling the movement of said Water-holder; substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In combination with an acetylene-gas machine, the water-holder 6 having circumferential series of openings 9, flanges 9 and discharging-lip 9 suitable supports in which the holder is trunnioned, and suitable means for moving the holder upon its trunnions; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In combination with'an acetylenegas generator, the tilting holder 6 having circu mferential series of openings, a hopper 15 located beneath said holder in the vertical plane of its series of openings, and a; pipe leading from said hopper to the generator; substantially as set forth.

6. In a generator for acetylene-gas machines, the combination of a series of carbidholders and endless chains traveling in horizontal planes and upon which said carbidholders are mounted and by which the holders are brought successively beneath the water-supply; substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

7. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination of the endless chain, brackets supported by the endless chain, and holders removably mounted on the brackets; substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. In combination with an acetylene-gas generator, an endless chain, brackets mounted on the endless chain, rollers beneath the brackets by which they are supported, and carbid-holders mounted on the brackets; substantially as set forth.

9. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination of the endless chain and carbid-holders suitably mounted on said chain through the medium of trunnions which permits the holders to be deflected for removal; substantially as set forth.

10. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination of the endless chain, holders trunnioned on the endless chain, and a cam for deflecting the holders to permit their-removal; substantially asset forth.

11. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination of an endless chain, means trunnioned on said endless chain for supporting carbid-holders, a friction-roller carried by said supporting means, and a cam impinged by said friction-roller for deflecting the supporting means; substantially as set forth.

12. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination of the endless chains, the brackets trunnioned to the endless chains at top and bottom, and the holders removably mounted upon said brackets; substantially as set forth.

13. In combination with an acetylene-gas generator, a pair of horizontally-arranged endless chains, vertical bars secured at their respective ends to the endless chains, pintles carried by said ends, and carbid-su'pporting means trunnioned upon said pintles; substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

14. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination of the base 1 formed with a channel 24 the endless chains travelingin horizontal planes, one of which is located in the channel, and carbid-holders mounted between the chains and having supporting means running upon the base; substantially as set forth.

15. In an acetylene-gas generator, the can bid-brackets consisting of the base 20, the vertical rods 2O by which the carbid-holders are confined on the brackets, and the vertical arm 21 by means of which the brackets are trunnioned upon suitable carrying means; substantially as explained.

16. In an acetylene-gas machine, the com: bination of the generator having a suitable water-supply, the gasometer connected to said generator and having a water-sealed passage through it, and the rod 14 working in the passage through the gasometer, having connection with the Water-supply and controlled by the position of the bell; substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

17. In an acetylene-gas machine, the combination of the generator having a suitable water-supply, a gasometer connected with said generator and having a central passage through it, a blow-off pipe controlled by a safety-valve, and the concentric rods 14 and 39 working in the passage through the gas= ometer, connected respectively to the watersupply and to the safety-valve and arranged to be operated, substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.

18. In combination with a gasometer of an acetylene -gas machine having a passage through it formed by water-sealed walls in the shell and bell, a vertically-reciprocating rod working in said passage and having working connection with a part of the machine to be controlled, said rod being itself controlled by the bell of the gasometer; substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth. HAZAEL GRIFFITH.

Witnesses:

H. S. KNIGHT, HARRY A. KNIGHT. 

